The Bushel and Strike, Ashwell

The Bushel and Strike has recently been take on over by Darren and Phillippa of The Illustrated Chef bbq company. An events company on a mission to take the oldest form of cooking and bring it in to the new age.... with a twist.

So with that in mind we wanted a base that we could showcase the amazing produce that Hertfordshire has to offer, and what a little gem the Bushel and Strike is, a fantastic village with great community spirit. So with a great product and a beautiful location there was only one thing to do... get the bbq out. What we are trying to offer is a little something for everybody.

The Pub

Having grown up in pubs, and the love of drinking in pubs, we wanted a traditional pub, so that is what we are trying to achieve with a good variety of real ales, lagers, spirits and soft drinks. A relaxing, great warm atmosphere, a real fixture of the community, Darren may even share his rum. We want the pub to feel like a pub should, a chance to either treat the wife or get away from the wife and kids, a community feel, once a stranger, never again, For us the beer and the lagers are most important here, everything associated with serving the best possible pint is top of our list, we care!!!

The Restaurant

We want to offer something different in the village, a date night, a special occasion, a chance to show off without having to hit the hustle and bustle of the high street. The menu is straight from farm to plate. Sourced from Hertfordshire award winning butchers Trussels we offer different cuts cooked in different ways all served with seasonal accompaniments and amazing sauces. All our menus are paired with amazing wines to give you an experience to remember. In house we perform all butchery, make bread and create all stocks and sauces. Nothing on the menu is out of place and completely relevant to our coal based theme. By sitting in the restaurant you can see our big green eggs flaming away.

The Garden

Imagine a summers day, a cold beer or a glass of wine in the sun, the kids playing, everyone laughing and in the background the smell of the lamb cooking away on our argentinian Asado, burgers and sausages cooking on the parilla and mouthwatering marinated vegetables sizzling on the chapa. We want to create a relaxed back yard bbq experience, no frills just fun, food and laughter... And of course the beer.